Don't Stand too Close to Me.

I think I brought home more than memories and gifts from the Loop Christmas. I have been fighting a nasal drip and sore throat since the trip. The same having been suffered through by the rest of my family, but I in fits of stubbornness have refused to take medicine nor go to the doctor. I snorted and sniffled my way through semester exams, and pretty have much felt miserable through our Christmas stuff here at home, at my Mom's, and at Brandy's Mom's. So this morning I got up, sounding about like I had a 2 pack a day habit, and as if i had gargled with Drain-O. That would not have been too bad, but I had one ear completely stopped up and hurting, and the other about "half full".

I gave up. It was time to go to the doctor...

Brandy and the kids use a different doctor here than the clinic I "use." By "use" I mean the mandatory physicals we have to take at school each year. I had been wanting to use Brandy's doctor after hearing how good he was with the girls. Unfortunately he was out of town until next week, so I resorted to use the clinic. So after waiting an hour and a half (not too bad as far as medical places go, but remember where we are talking here) I got in and spent maybe 5 minutes, to hear the guy say, "I don't think it's a bacterial infection, so... I can give you a steroid shot, but if its not allergies, don't expect much." Part of me wanted to spit a a big brown hunk of phlegm and ask him if he didn't want to run it over to the lab to make sure it's "not infected". But I remained polite while I think my temperature and blood pressure started to climb. Then he said, "I could write you a prescription, but there's an Over-The-Counter that will do the same thing to get rid of that mucus." My insurance plan doesn't have an Rx Card, so he gave me the name of it, "Mucinex-D" and told me I would have to ask the pharmacist to give it to me, since it is a variety of Mucinex containing pseudoephedrine.

I couldn't believe it, when I asked, and the pharmacist at the local drug store gave it to me, I had to give them my Driver's License, and then they entered my name and information into a list! She said they had to keep up with it where they could tell law enforcement who might be have the ingredients to make meth. I was thinking "Great, sell the Chemistry teacher a precursor to an illegal drug, and put his name on a list!" I wanted to ask the lady at the counter, do they keep a list of everyone who buys aluminum foil and "The Works" at the grocery store, just in case they might want to build a bomb? Or a list of everyone who purchases carving knives from Bed Bath and Beyond in case they decide to dismember their spouse?

I was checking news sites later in the evening, and one of the Digg sites mentioned the real reason for crap you go through just to get rid of a little snot, and why today's Sudafed is just about as good for your cold as taking cherry Kool-Aid, and its not because of the Meth-heads out there. The full article can be found here. The following are excerpts:

"Let's follow the money a bit. It seems that most all pseudoephedrine is manufactured in China and India, and very cheaply, much more cheaply than it can be made in the United States or Europe. What that means is that these companies don't have lobbyists in Washington who can make an effective case for their product.

Contrast this was phenylephrine, the world's largest manufacturer of which is located in Germany. The company is called Boehringer-Ingelheim, according to MSNBC. It developed the drug in 1949 for use in eyedrops. In the last two years, virtually every manufacturer of cold medicine has changed its formula to include the Boehringer drug. Some continue to make the old formula available but only with special access.

Is it possible that the move against wonderful pseudoephedrine and in favor of useless phenylephrine was really a form of protectionism in disguise? That it was really about rewarding a well-connected company at the expense of companies without connections?

If that sounds cynical, take a look at this. It seems that our friends at Boehringer Ingelheim are rather interested in American politics, with 73% of its donations going to Republican candidates for federal office. You can see here that Boehringer even has a PAC located in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Someone with more time than I have ought to check to see how the people it supported for Congress voted on the act that resulted in a massive shift toward their product, and has nearly kept its competitive product off the market.

Oh and look here. It turns out that this company spent $1.85 million on lobbying in 2005, and this was a huge upsurge over all previous years. "

I would continue to rant, however some CIA webcrawler will probably come across this and brand me an Enemy of the State AND a Drug Addicted Terrorist, all because I had a sinus infection and an earache. You might want to just say you've never heard of me, and don't know anything if guys in the black Crown Victorias drop by your door...

Deceit, Deception, and The North Pole.

Another strike against Brandy and myself in the "Parents of the Year" contest... as if the Oreo incident did not disqualify us indefinitely.

Holiday Season usually affords enough time to stretch out the family celebrations where there are few if any conflicts in scheduling. This is in part since I have two weeks off, and Brandy sets her own schedule. However, it seems the Yuletide Grinch conspired this year and set us "betwixt a sugar plum and a hard place" when it comes to making appointed rounds between "you and yours". I figure it was odds catching up, but when you have the opportunity to blame events in your life on fantasy characters you should make the most if it. "No sir, I did not get drunk on rum and then fall asleep at the wheel Captain, the Mermaid made me steer the ship into those rocks..." You get the idea.

Our dilemma: Christmas eve at Grammy and Grumps, Christmas Day at MaMa and PaPa's. This would not be difficult, but Christmas is slated to take place in the evening at "Grammy's House" and we could not find a good way to get back home in time to properly entertain some house guests that stop by on Christmas Eve, as well as one (whispered) "Jolly Old Elf."

We do not mention his common name here, since it sends cold shivers down Megan's back! She is totally frightened by the clandestine, chimney-entry, nocturnal Noel-sneaker, St. Nicholas. I think she has grown up in a modern age where stories of old, whiskered men enticing young girls to "sit on their lap" usually don't end with good cheer. She has no trouble with the notion of a person who comes in and drops off the goodies she has asked for, and then leaves post-haste. However, if said "bowl full of jelly" made its way down the hall towards her bedroom, I think we would have "The Night Before Christmas" meets "The Shining." No lap sitting, or even stares in the mall. Just a nice letter, and "please come while I'm asleep, drop off the stuff, and stay in the kitchen to eat your cookies. Thank You."

Where was I? Oh Yes! Time Management. Not enough time to entertain guests who wish to be around to see what that "Red Suited Fellow" brought. Other folk would have just changed plans, or sucked it up, left a key under the mat and "be warm and filled" post-it noted to a re-gifted fruitcake. But we were selfish, as we wanted a chance to be with everyone this Christmas, and keep the traditions we have-- all of them, as long as we may. So those hard pressed find novel solutions, and this one even got a grin from the misses.

Last night as Megan was brushing her teeth and getting ready for bed, I asked her if we could talk for a moment. She gave me her attention and I told her a li-- a "fabrication atop fabrication". Much like a velvet Christmas dress atop a petticoat, each enough on their own, yet together full and rich. It was deception, however I contend this friendly season is replete with deception. We make up excuses for where we have been to cover shopping trips to the store. We launder funds where gift purchases do not show on credit card statements. We include...I'll stop here, it's just excuses and you have already seen through this ruse. You get the point.

I said to Megan, "Hey I e-mailed Santa." She shot a chilling look at me as if I had spirited a curse. She searched around as if looking for the ghost of Marley (not Bob...) As if just mentioning the name would cause Claus to jump off the Coke bottle and come for her. I told her, "It's OK. I had to ask if he could move us up in the rotation." She looked at me inquisitively, reassured that the stuff would arrive but not while she was standing in the middle of the bathroom with toothbrush in hand. I began my tale:

"You see, I e-mailed the North Pole and told them of the scheduling issue we were having. I didn't get a reply back from him, but from his Logistics Office. They said he was very busy with last minute details. The Department of Homeland Security was having issues with whether or not the bottles of bubble liquid were under the regulation size limit, and some of his elves were having trouble with renewal of their guest visas. Both Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton mentioned legislative support, but have spent so much time in Iowa lately, he doesn't know if they are going to help him out or not. "Dubbya" isn't on his list right now, so he figures he isn't on Bush's either. I replied and told them I understood and we would manage. But then they forwarded me a waiver form, that allowed us to be part of the "PEST-R," or "Pre-Eve Sleigh Test-Run." Who knew Santa had Engineering Elves, like NASA (although most of them are probably having to return to India after the season.) To make sure the sleigh and reindeer are operating at maximum efficiency, Santa delivers some packages to select homes the night before Christmas Eve, as a dress-rehearsal to the real event. This way they can make sure the AutoReign, Cruise, GPS, satellite telemetry link, On-board Internet and Real-Time Naughty-Nice Database, Reindeer Defecation Storage Systems, Defroster, and iPod-music Sync are working correctly. I emailed the form back and we've been approved."

"So he's coming Sunday Night?" She asked. Her eyes squinted slightly as if she was measuring my words carefully. I saw her sifting my yarn through that 5-year old brain of cognition and wisdom. I thought I might be in trouble.

"Yeah...Sunday Night," I replied hesitantly, thinking she might have found an issue with the story.

"When I'm asleep, right?" Her look more harsh.

"Yes. When you're asleep," I said in mocking comfort.

"OK." She smiled as she walked out the bathroom, content with the knowledge that she would see no weird man in red traipsing into her room, no matter the evening.

She walked down the hall. I followed and we all prayed together in her room. Not for things, other than in thanksgiving of what He has given us for the day. We prayed for people and thier health, and safe travels to see their family. We prayed our friends and family would find peace during this season of bustle, and blessings not in new gifts but in old acquaintances. We prayed thanks notsomuch for a baby in a manger, but for a man on a cross. I prayed for forgiveness, and to learn to be a better father and husband.

The Amen was spoke from all, and one by one the hugs and kisses were given, and lights turned out. And we all went to bed for a "long winter's nap."

Merry Christmas.

So what are Video Games?

The fact that this happened, should be enough to prove my fact that this is now as much an entertainment media as film, tv, or music. HINT: You are watching the band "upside down." (from the visitors side of the field.)



How many of the video games can you name? Comment with them, I could only name about 4.

Bar Stools

We finally got our new bar stools. I'm so excited. After living here almost 5 1/2 years, we finally have seating at our bar. Now I have to decide if I want the bar painted the same as the kitchen cabinets or a different color. It definitely doesn't need to stay the way it is.
Here is Madelyn enjoying the new seating before bedtime. She dropped her cup and is trying to decide the best way to get down.

Halloween Fun

I have finally posted some Halloween pictures on our Flickr page. Madelyn as usual was very uncooperative. So I didn't get a very good one of her in the Kitty costume that Megan wore when she was 2. The girls enjoyed Trunk or Treat after church last night. I think they came home with more candy than we took to the event. Good thing I have two more months to teach Sunday school. That's a great opportunity to get rid of some of that sweet stuff.

Bats, 2-year olds, and Rocks, Oh my!

Halloween is upon us and the girls have been busy. Megan spent this past Sunday afternoon over at her friend Jaclyn's house. They made cute little Halloween decorations. This is my favorite. They are decorating some of my kitchen cabinet knobs--out of the reach of little two year old hands.


This coming weekend, we are traveling to Roscoe to help celebrate Julia's birthday. We are planning to stay the evening and attend the Highland Halloween Carnival. I'm pretty sure the last year I went was when I was a senior in High School. It will be good to go home again and see some people, friends, and teachers I haven't seen a while.

Madelyn has been a busy little girl herself. I thought I would let you all know what she does while sister is away at school.

She goes through different movie phases. For a while, her favorite movie was Space Jam. She always asked to watch it. The cutest was hearing her say "Michael Jordan." She was always asking me who that was--the guy in the movie. I finally told her. And she still remembers.

Now her favorite movie is Shrek. She likes to dance to all the great music in the movie. The green hat on her head is a toy pea pod. She likes to take the peas out and wear the pod while she dances. It makes me laugh every time.





Other parts of the day are spent coloring. She is getting better about trying to color objects on the page rather than just scribbling all over. It is amazing to watch little ones develop and learn. She has just about mastered knowing all the basic colors.








Finally, this is what Madelyn usually does to Megan's room at least once a day. She loves playing in there while big sister is away. Of course mom has to clean most of it up before Megan gets home--with Madelyn's help. Otherwise I have a hard time getting Megan to clean her room before bedtime. She informs me that she didn't make the mess, and rightfully so.



Megan and her daddy have been working on identifying rocks in their rock collections. Megan has always been fascinated with rocks. So Shawn and I agreed to take this opportunity to help her learn more about them. We bought her a collection of about 15 rocks. They came in a storage box, but were not labeled. It also came with a little book to help identify the specimens. And of course Shawn has his books and library books to help in the process. She has identified gypsum rosette, sandstone, hematite, and calcite.

When appropriate, Shawn throws in whether the rocks are igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. She's also learning about their luster, hardness, cleavage, and streak. It's all so very interesting--even to a 32 year old CPA.

That should catch you up on what's been going on around here. Hope you all have a great rest of the week.

Future basketball star?

Megan had her PIPs (Players in Progress) basketball camp this past Saturday. I think she had a good time. It was difficult to judge her reaction to it. She is not always geared up about starting something new that she doesn't already know how to do.

Shawn and I wanted her to do this for a couple of reasons. First, to introduce her to a sport we know she could one day be good at if she practices hard. The opportunities around here for other things such as dance, gymnastics, piano, etc... are few and far between, even though she seems to be more geared for activities such as these. Second, we wanted her to have something in her little world to be responsible for. Megan has a lazy gene. And the idea of having weekly practices is not appealing to her. I think that is why she informed me Saturday night before bed that she didn't like PIPs. She thought it was a one day thing and that was it. Third, I ate, slept, and breathed basketball when I was in high school. I guess I just want to live vicariously through my daughter. And hey, it sure beats playing soccer and softball. But if this doesn't work out, she can always become a hairdresser. Although Madelyn will probably not be her first customer. (If I can get Madelyn's hair fixed and looking normal again I might can laugh about the fact that Megan decided to take it upon herself to give her sister a haircut.)
The funniest part of camp was when they were sizing Megan for shorts and a shirt. The lady held up the smallest pair of shorts to her and then turned around and asked another lady if they had any extra smalls. The outfit just hangs all over her. It makes some of the skills she has to do a little more challenging.

But I'll be there to practice with her. I broke down and got a new basketball just for the occasion. I think its going to be lots of fun and maybe Megan will have fun too.

For the Moms

My daughter made me do it!

As Megan was bathing last night, she told me she wanted her hair cut to here and placed her hand at the middle part of her neck. I was stunned at first. You see, Megan has always talked about having long hair. But sadly, she has been blessed with her mommy's hair. It just does not grow very fast and when it does grow, it does not look healthy. But we have managed.

I told her it may be a while before I could get her to Kim. Kim is the only person I trust anymore to cut mine or my children's hair. She also does my mom's. (Side note: Shawn taught Kim in high school when we lived in Roscoe. Kinda makes me feel old.) Megan was not pleased with that response. So she replies, "Mom, you can cut it." At first I said no. But then I gave in. It probably needs some touching up, but I think it looks adorable. Shawn was not so eager to offer a favorable comment. Now all his girls have short(er) hair. Sorry, it's just a lot easier on the mommy this way.

Enjoy!

1.5 Life

Many of you know I have a penchant for computer games. It probably started when I programmed my Mother's first Macintosh computer back in 1983 with a BASIC game that simulated a lunar landing. The graphics consisted of a dash (-) for the surface, and the exhaust were asterisks (*,) and the capsule was two slashes (/\). The whole game looked like this:

/\
*
*

--------

Carnack eat your heart out!

Now before you laugh too much, I know many of the readers of this will hearken to the days of Atari 2600s and playing Combat, where a colored "H" with an extra stick was what your tank looked like. Pitfall: an L-shaped stick with legs that would jump across leaned over V's, while swinging on straight line -- enough said.

So what do I play now? I stopped playing Guild Wars because they were pretty much ending the on-line game by introducing Guild Wars 2 with no way to transfer your character to the new game (I know, insert world's smallest violin playing"My heart bleeds for you" right here.) So the latest addiction, err... I mean diversion, is a game called "Second Life."

I could spend a lot of text and time boring you with the details of the game, but I won't. It's interactive and contains real world environments built by its users, who at anytime number between 30,000 to 50,000 on-line, with over 3 million registered users. People buy and sell stuff they make, and they chat with each other. In-game money can be exchanged for US dollars and vice versa.

It looks like real life, being played by real people, but it is a game. "SL is not RL, and RL is not SL." is a common slogan you hear (SL = "Second Life," RL="Real Life.") It is designed to be a "utopia" where everyone is equal, and everyone has a chance for success, there's no need for food, and clothing can be found for free, or you can just learn to make your own. Heck you can learn to make anything you want, and then sell it, allowing for your character to be successful in the game. It's all given to you. Yet the game has a darker side. There are those people who go about "griefing" others, those who try to steal, and those who use get-rich-quick schemes to entice others into scams. There are those who lie, and cheat, and manipulate. In a perfect digital world where everyone has an equal chance to succeed on their own merits, we still see negative behaviors of "Real Life." "SL" may not be "RL" but is shares in its virtues and vices.

"So, what's your point?"you may be thinking.

In the education business, we have many well-meaning people, and we have the legislature (not to be confused with the well-meaning people) all trying to create a utopian environment. "Everyone will be equal" -- so much in fact that we will expect all of them to pass the exact same tests, at the exact same level, at the exact same time. "There's no need for food" -- schools now provide much of the supplies for their students. A district I'm aware of provides vouchers for school supplies to families who fill out (not just qualify) an application for free and reduced lunch. The educational institution for which I work feeds every student breakfast as part of a government program. "You can learn to make anything you want, and then sell it, allowing for your 'character' to be successful" --All educators have ever asked is for those people whom we have fed, and supplied, and nurtured, to come and learn how to make it in the world.

Well, we understand how far this "simulation" has taken us... no further than the digital panacea of Second Life.

So I should start to call my job "1.5 Life." I'm sorry to say public education has become as much a game as those I play on computers. It's not whether we get a student ready for "Real Life", only when we can get the "high score" on the tests we give in "School Life". So we structure everything we do toward that goal. We learn the tricks of the "game," like the codes gamers type in to get more powerful items or special skills. We tirelessly practice, and refine our skills, until we play the "game" better than anyone else. Then we get to go around for big money and tell others how to play "The Game." In the end, if you really consider the disservice you're doing, it's hard to sleep. So you tell yourself, "it's just a game." You "de-humanize," and view those around you as "avatars" or only virtual representations of real people, because if they were real, you would be preparing them to be successful, instead of using them for your own gain. They become an ends to a means to achieve the goal of the "high score."

"School Life is not Real Life, and Real Life is not School Life."

When will the populace put an end to the game: "School Life" must become "Real Life," even with all its non-Utopian crass, failure, and finality. In this we truly find humanity.

Are you ready for some football?

Our Days

Just a quick update about what's really been going on around here.

Megan ended the summer by making huge strides in the swimming department. If you will remember back to when Megan had tubes in her ears, we had to be really careful not to get water in them. It was at this time that she became terrified of water on her head. Just look at her now.


She has mastered the art of jumping off a make-shift high dive into the pool at Maw-Maw and Papa's house. No floating devices attached. She goes all the way under the water and pops right back up to doggy paddle to the steps of the pool. Wow!!!

This year, Megan is in kindergarten. She loves her teacher and has made lots of new friends, Colby, Jessica, and Aubrey to name a few. I am so excited for her. She amazes me in the fact that she shows no prejudice. I love that about my sweet little girl. If only I could exhibit that quality more often.

She is learning a lot. Handwriting, music, and the beginning steps of learning how to read. She is easily discouraged in that area, so I make sure to work with her in the evenings on the things she brings home. She is also becoming quite addicted to reading library books. She is allowed to check out two books on Tuesday (library day) and keep them for a week. We also get books from the public library to keep it interesting. Every night we read a book before bed. Sometimes it makes is hard to squeeze in her questions for Bible hour. That is something we really need to work on.

Megan is also getting involved in activities outside of school. Today she will attend her first Girl Scouts meeting. She is extremely excited. I was in Girl Scouts when I was about her age. I don't really remember much about it, what we did, etc... But I have a feeling this will be right up her alley. She is not very interested in sports. She brought home a paper concerning youth soccer league. I asked her is she wanted to play soccer this year. She looked at me with a look that said the following:

Mom, you have got to be kidding. You mean wear socks and tennis shoes, run around outside in the hot sun chasing a black and white ball, sweating...

You get the drift. You would think the girl doesn't like to be outside. And that is not the case at all. She just doesn't see a point in the game. And the truth be told, the real reason is the fact that she doesn't like wearing socks and tennis shoes.

Having said that, we did sign her up for PIPs yesterday. That stands for Players in Progress. It is a basketball program that teaches kids as young as kindergarten basketball skills. She will go to a camp out at Rochester on October 6. The whole group (k-6th grade) performs at half time of local basketball games. I remember watching them last year and was amazed at what those kids could do with a basketball. She is really excited about this. And so am I. Basketball was my life in high school. I was hoping that at least one of my girls would take it up. I hope Megan enjoys it...tennis shoes and all.

That should catch you up on what Megan has been doing lately. Madelyn and I are glad to have some mommy daughter time alone. But she really misses Megan when she is gone all day. We both do.

I would post a picture of her, but I don't know what Shawn has done with the camera. He took it to Abilene the other day and I haven't seen it since.

I spend my days taking Madelyn to the potty, changing the DVD to the episode of Blue's Clues that Madelyn insists she needs to watch, and trying to convince her that it would be okay to play by herself for just a little while. She definitely has that second child thing down where she is unable to play by herself. Overall, I manage to find a few hours to do the things I need to do.

Madelyn is learning so much herself. She has amazed me at her ability to learn numbers. Maybe because numbers/math comes naturally for me. Before she was 18 months old she could count to ten. And shortly thereafter, she learned to recognize numbers by sight. I quiz her often and every time she spouts off (2) two, (4) four, (3) three, (5) five, (8) eight at the sight of the number I just can't believe it. We've just about mastered the basic colors also. I guess it's about time to move onto letters. She knows a few by sight, just ask Maw-Maw about the letter Y.

I guess that's all for now. I have a long to do list today. Maybe I can at least get started on it.

"It could be worse..."

OK...OK...OK.
We came off reunion....went on vacation...then school started.

In between I had to preach for the church... then had a part on the search committee, then found one... then covered a lesson or two 'till he got here.

Now its "District Educational Improvement Committee" meetings... being assigned the Science Department chairperson... Teaching Biology atop my usual Chemistry... Participating in the Texas Midwest Science Alliance...Coaching both UIL Science and Computer Science...and... announcing for football games (..."other duties as assigned," just ask a teacher about that clause in their contracts).

Still with me? If so, I've probably moved on to something else someone needs me to do. But it could be worse.

With a twisted, morbid sense of humor, I read this article on-line and it made me feel better:

CARACAS (Reuters) - A Venezuelan man who had been declared dead woke up in the morgue in excruciating pain after medical examiners began their autopsy.

Carlos Camejo, 33, was declared dead after a highway accident and taken to the morgue, where examiners began an autopsy only to realize something was amiss when he started bleeding. They quickly sought to stitch up the incision on his face.

"I woke up because the pain was unbearable," Camejo said, according to a report on Friday in leading local newspaper El Universal.

His grieving wife turned up at the morgue to identify her husband's body only to find him moved into a corridor -- and alive.

Reuters could not immediately reach hospital officials to confirm the events. But Camejo showed the newspaper his facial scar and a document ordering the autopsy.



So for those of you who have been waiting for a post... I'm not dead, so don't "cut" us from your blog list.

Club Grubb 2007

Another Smith Reunion has come and gone and the "Semi-Resort" Locale of Club Grubb. From Luau and Games to Golf & Grandkids, it was a fun weekend for all. The traditional Saturday Evening Sing was recorded and here's the audio from the sing:

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If you would like it in some other format please let me know, and I'll try to get it to you.

"SHALL WE PLAY A GAME?"

T-shirt designs finished. The golf course is digitized. And now I'm thinking:

P-L-A-N L-A-N.

So if anyone is interested during "Club Grubb" and would like to have an evening (probably Saturday Night) for the traditional game-a-thon, let me know. The only issue is I no longer have access to all those laptops. I have one (maybe two) that can be used. Don would have one (it is his house and he has a PC). But what about others? We could choose some lower end games, like Age of empires II, or I have an install for Tribes (squad type FPS) that would run on anything that would run Windows 98. I could stay away from Counter-strike. All it might need was wireless internet, or ethernet if we could set up in the office. Anyway let me know and if it is something we can put together, and get together enough computers, I can put together an infrastructure to allow us to game.

Studies in Corinthians

Although it has been a while since I posted audio, we have continued to have a study in the book of First Corinthians. The last 6 lessons audio is posted on the podbean site, and I'm working on putting the presentations on the bible study page. I just have some of the presentations on one computer, and some on another. Here is the audio from the final lesson in the series:

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Before and After

A month. One solid month without a post. Tsk...tsk...tsk...

We'll it's not my fault, "My kitchen made me do it!" But after a month of trials and tribulations, that oft tested my sanity, and Brandy's patience with me, we have completed this summer's home improvement project. The Kitchen from ---- (well, at least Gehenna.)

Before:


After:


So that's why we haven't been posting like we ought. Just don't look too close to the pictures.

The Secret Life of Teachers in the Summer

Teachers have the most unusual schedule of all professions, based on a throwback to the agrarian age where students were needed on their family farms to help plant during the late spring and early summer. So, now in the "information age" the idea of a summer vacation of three months seems antiquated, and a bit odd to many. However, the idea of a summer "vacation" isn't exactly what occurs.

Example... my summer "vacation" schedule.

Right now I'm Gil Grissom by-day, Bob Villa (or more aptly, Tim Taylor) by-night. I'm involved in a 2 1/2 week set of professional development hosted by Abilene Christian University's Chemistry Department where we study Forensic Chemistry. So far I've learned how to recover etched off serial numbers, detect cocaine on 20-dollar bills, and conduct a number of tests to determine all manner of illicit drugs. Tomorrow we start work on detection and identification of arson accelerants. It's from 9 to 4 everyday. Then when I get home its time to work on the kitchen, which is in the throes of a makeover with new walls, paint, counter tops, and appliances.

When the ACU training is over, then I get to start teaching summer school. That will be the last week and a half, or so, of June.

In July, well... things get worse, so to speak. The first week of July we need to have a curriculum meeting within the science department. The second week, is Singing School at the Church, and I also have to do a couple of TAKS test cram sessions for re-testers. The third week, I have to go to Austin to sit on a committee that's looking at the statewide End-of Course Chemistry exam for next year. The fourth week of July I have a district-wide professional seminar at Possum Kingdom. The fifth week of July I go to an International Chemistry Educators conference (ChemEd,) being hosted in Denton.

So the whole idea of a "vacation" is a bit of a misnomer. It's just a chance to get all those other things done you need to do, but can't since you have a classroom of kids that need you everyday.

Potty training -- Week #1

Well this has been an exciting week around here. Not only are we in the middle of updating our kitchen, we decided to start potty training as well. This was quite a chore since Megan potty trained in one minute at the age of 20 months. And Maw-Maw did that. So I have no real experience. I figured at 22 months, Madelyn could do it too. However, the biggest difference between Megan and Madelyn is that Madelyn has a much, much, much stronger will than Megan does. This was scaring me to death. I knew the sooner I got this done, the easier it would be.

I set out on Wednesday with the idea that if I locked myself in the bathroom with Madelyn that she would have to go on the potty. With a big bag of M&Ms in hand I started my task on Wednesday morning. And no, the M&Ms were not for me, but a bribe for my little one's success. By 11:00, we were back in diapers. She was more bull headed than her mommy. Madelyn would sit on the potty for what seemed like 20 minutes. I would give up on her going and let her up. She would walk across the bathroom and let it go all over the floor. After the third time, I quit.

Frustrated, I decided to try again on Thursday morning. No better luck. So I spent hours on-line reading anything I could that afternoon to encourage myself to stick with it and find an approach that was more suited to Madelyn's strong will.

Success. I ended up downloading an e-book called Potty Training Made Easy, Fast & Simple by Johanne Cesar. Her approach is to set a timer for 20 minutes constantly through-out the waking hours of the day. When it goes off, it's potty-time. The point is not for the child to go every time, but to get used to stopping what they are doing to go and get used to sitting on the potty. Of course there is to be a big celebration with successful trips. Another point she makes which I totally agreed with was that the diapers have to go. And with that pull-ups also. Let's face it, we can try and fool ourselves into believing that pull-ups are more like underwear, when in reality they are nothing more than redesigned and more expensive diapers. So nothing but cotton panties from now on at home. Carpet cleaner is cheaper than diapers anyway. (Side note: diapers and pull-ups are acceptable at nap time and bed time however.)

Of course, this approach had to be adapted for my little one. She did not like going to potty when she really didn't have to go. And she knew the difference. So I've been following her around like a pesky fly for the past two days encouraging her to tell me when she needs to potty. She appreciated not being locked in the bathroom for hours on end.

Friday started out better. She would start in her panties and tell me. We would run to the potty and there she would finish her business. I considered that a great success. And she loved getting rewarded with a handful of M&Ms. She also loved the celebration daddy and sister put on for her. Now when she successfully makes a potty run, she hurries to share the news with Shawn and waits until she gets her big hug. For those of you who don't know, Madelyn is a very loving child. The hugs probably mean more to her than the M&Ms.

Another side note: On Thursday and Friday, Shawn would tell Madelyn that he was sad after she would potty in her panties. She did not like this at all. She would mope around for at least an hour saying "Daddy sad." I would agree and she would almost come to tears. Then later when she would successfully make it to the bathroom, he would tell her that "Daddy was happy." Oh the smile that lit that little face. Then she would walk around for the next hour saying "Daddy happy!" To which I would agree. She definitely likes the praise part of this venture.

Saturday was even better than Friday. However, we had to use a little discipline at times. By mid-morning she had completely forgotten what we were doing apparently. I finally had to swat her on the leg a couple of times to make her aware that I was serious when I told her not to tee tee in her "big girl" panties. We had very few problems the rest of the day.

I was apprehensive about church Sunday morning. I was trying to be consistent about no diapers during the waking hours. But I was not sure we were ready to go out in public in "big girl" panties. So I did a no-no and put her in pull-ups this morning. I told her they were just like her "big girl" panties and that she didn't need to potty in them. A new quarter had started and her cradle roll teacher had changed. She did not want to stay in class, so she went with me just this once. During class and church she said she needed to go potty three different times. Success!!!!! Three times we went to the bathroom, three times she pottied. We came home in the same pull up and it was still dry.

I was so excited I just had to let everyone know.

Will try and post pictures of the progress in the kitchen sometime. The paneling is down, the walls are textured and painted a smoky blue, additional lights have been installed, and my favorite--the pot rack is hanging over the bar.

Communication of Elimination Communication

I have a habit of mowing the lawn and listening to numerous podcasts, like TWIT, NPR Technology, Earth and Sky, and ABC news Nightline. Tonight as we were finishing up the yard, Nightline had a story on infant "elimination communication", or as I put it "going diaperless." It about made me double over laughing to where I couldn't push the mower until I realized they weren't kidding! Here are excerpts from the story off the ABC news website (complete story):

Diapers Not Required?

Some Say You Can Potty-Train Your Baby Using 'Elimination Communication'

By JESSICA YELLIN and STEVEN BAKER
May 15, 2007

It's the latest thing in child-rearing — dressing your baby diaper-free.

Instead of putting diapers on their children, some parents use natural cues and signals to determine when their little ones need to "go," and react accordingly.

"We do potty parties. You know, 'Mommy go potty,' 'Campbell go potty' — and he usually goes. I go, and he goes," said Nancy Meyer.

Meyer is one of about a dozen women in New Paltz, N.Y., who participate in an infant potty training support group run by Lolli Edinger.

"Keeping a child out of their waste in a diaper keeps them clean, keeps them hygienic, keeps them comfortable," Edinger said.

Erica Chase-Salerno hosts the monthly meeting in her home, and she says that "It's about honoring her body. That's one of the main reasons we do it. When you catch your first pee, you're hooked. I caught my first pee — I thought it was a fluke and I kept thinking it was flukes, but when you keep having a coincidence, you're on track — once you get the first one, you can't look back."

'Attachment Parenting'

The moms say going diaper-free helps them relate to their children. To get their children to go, the moms use hand signals and the "ssss" sound, and one mom even had a song to get her son to go.

"I realized it's not so much about diapers, it's really about attachment parenting. Just listening to the baby's cues and responding to her cues. I communicate with her better now," said Carla McGarry, the mother of 1-year-old Kristina.

These parents do use diapers sometimes, such as overnight or when they go out, but when they are at home with the child, the babies are bare and the moms try to predict when they need to use the bathroom. If they're right, they call it a catch, and if they fail to predict one, it's a miss.

"I know that she is going to need to pee now," said Chase-Salerno. "She gets in a zone and I feel this is one of them. What I do is I bring in toys with her because sometimes she'll sit a little bit longer and release and relax and pee while she's playing."

OK. Before I begin, let me first say: "To Each Their Own."

But for my part I don't see me going around all day watching for that little grimace or squirm on "My Own". Nor do I see myself constantly asking Megan or Madelyn "Go Potty?" just to make sure I don't have to get the carpet cleaner out from under the sink.

Being a guy, I also find it very awkward in considering a "potty party" with either of my girls. It's hard enough to dodge certain questions, as is. For example, Megan has a habit of waiting for me right outside the door after I have ran to hide--- err, I mean, had to go use the restroom. The small bathroom off our bedroom has a pocketdoor (lockable) with about a 1-1/2 inch gap at the bottom. One time as I came out after one too many cups of coffee at work, I was met by Megan with a look of puzzlement. She asked, "Daddy, why do your feet point the wrong way when you potty?"

Maybe also, guys just handle messes in a different way: we are not as proactive. Let's be honest for most guys, the "cue" that their child needed to go, would be a puddle in the floor, or an odor wafting from down the hall. Well, that's not quite correct, we as men would be proactive, just in a much different way. Instead of making "ssss" sounds (which by the way most guys make, but not with their mouths) or singing little potty songs, men would simply go to the ag store, buy a bale, and layout hay in Junior's room. That's the men's version of going diaperless, and we have been doing this for many years with the animals we have been responsible for. Not saying anyone's child is an animal mind you, and then again you can now purchase diapers for animals, so maybe I'm just behind the time.

So as we --actually I should say Brandy--prepares to potty train Madelyn (who's name in Hebrew must mean "stubborn as a rock"), I don't see us rushing out to the neighbor's barn, nor myself with pitchfork in hand at my front door. And Brandy will not expect me to "sssss" or sing songs, although I could, like:

• "Smoke on the Water"
• "To Him who Sits on the Throne"
• "There's a Fountain Free"

Maybe I'll just stick to cheering, "Yeah! you potty-ied!"

No children were harmed in the making of this school year.

As we approach the end of another school year, I share this with you:

Under Which Lyre
A Reactionary Tract for the Times

(Phi Beta Kappa Poem, Harvard, 1946)
W. H. Auden

Ares at last has quit the field,
The bloodstains on the bushes yield
To seeping showers,
And in their convalescent state
The fractured towns associate
With summer flowers.

Encamped upon the college plain
Raw veterans already train
As freshman forces;
Instructors with sarcastic tongue
Shepherd the battle-weary young
Through basic courses.

Among bewildering appliances
For mastering the arts and sciences
They stroll or run,
And nerves that steeled themselves to slaughter
Are shot to pieces by the shorter
Poems of Donne.

Professors back from secret missions
Resume their proper eruditions,
Though some regret it;
They liked their dictaphones a lot,
T hey met some big wheels, and do not
Let you forget it.

But Zeus' inscrutable decree
Permits the will-to-disagree
To be pandemic,
Ordains that vaudeville shall preach
And every commencement speech
Be a polemic.

Let Ares doze, that other war
Is instantly declared once more
'Twixt those who follow
Precocious Hermes all the way
And those who without qualms obey
Pompous Apollo.

Brutal like all Olympic games,
Though fought with smiles and Christian names
And less dramatic,
This dialectic strife between
The civil gods is just as mean,
And more fanatic.

What high immortals do in mirth
Is life and death on Middle Earth;
Their a-historic
Antipathy forever gripes
All ages and somatic types,
The sophomoric

Who face the future's darkest hints
With giggles or with prairie squints
As stout as Cortez,
And those who like myself turn pale
As we approach with ragged sail
The fattening forties.

The sons of Hermes love to play
And only do their best when they
Are told they oughtn't;
Apollo's children never shrink
From boring jobs but have to think
Their work important.

Related by antithesis,
A compromise between us is
Impossible;
Respect perhaps but friendship never:
Falstaff the fool confronts forever
The prig Prince Hal.

If he would leave the self alone,
Apollo's welcome to the throne,
Fasces and falcons;
He loves to rule, has always done it;
The earth would soon, did Hermes run it,
Be like the Balkans.

But jealous of our god of dreams,
His common-sense in secret schemes
To rule the heart;
Unable to invent the lyre,
Creates with simulated fire
Official art.

And when he occupies a college,
Truth is replaced by Useful Knowledge;
He pays particular
Attention to Commercial Thought,
Public Relations, Hygiene, Sport,
In his curricula.

Athletic, extrovert and crude,
For him, to work in solitude
Is the offence,
The goal a populous Nirvana:
His shield bears this device: Mens sana
Qui mal y pense.

Today his arms, we must confess,
From Right to Left have met success,
His banners wave
From Yale to Princeton, and the news
From Broadway to the Book Reviews
Is very grave.

His radio Homers all day long
In over-Whitmanated song
That does not scan,
With adjectives laid end to end,
Extol the doughnut and commend
The Common Man.

His, too, each homely lyric thing
On sport or spousal love or spring
Or dogs or dusters,
Invented by some court-house bard
For recitation by the yard
In filibusters.

To him ascend the prize orations
And sets of fugal variations
On some folk-ballad,
While dietitians sacrifice
A glass of prune-juice or a nice
Marsh-mallow salad.

Charged with his compound of sensational
Sex plus some undenominational
Religious matter,
Enormous novels by co-eds
Rain down on our defenceless heads
Till our teeth chatter.

In fake Hermetic uniforms
Behind our battle-line, in swarms
That keep alighting,
His existentialists declare
That they are in complete despair,
Yet go on writing.

No matter; He shall be defied;
White Aphrodite is on our side:
What though his threat
To organize us grow more critical?
Zeus willing, we, the unpolitical,
Shall beat him yet.

Lone scholars, sniping from the walls
Of learned periodicals,
Our facts defend,
Our intellectual marines,
Landing in little magazines
Capture a trend.

By night our student Underground
At cocktail parties whisper round
From ear to ear;
Fat figures in the public eye
Collapse next morning, ambushed by
Some witty sneer.

In our morale must lie our strength:
So, that we may behold at length
Routed Apollo's
Battalions melt away like fog,
Keep well the Hermetic Decalogue,
Which runs as follows:

Thou shalt not do as the dean pleases,
Thou shalt not write thy doctor's thesis
On education,
Thou shalt not worship projects nor
Shalt thou or thine bow down before
Administration.

Thou shalt not answer questionnaires
Or quizzes upon World-Affairs,
Nor with compliance
Take any test. Thou shalt not sit
With statisticians nor commit
A social science.

Thou shalt not be on friendly terms
With guys in advertising firms,
Nor speak with such
As read the Bible for its prose,
Nor, above all, make love to those
Who wash too much.

Thou shalt not live within thy means
Nor on plain water and raw greens.
If thou must choose
Between the chances, choose the odd;
Read The New Yorker, trust in God;
And take short views.

In the Eyes of My Daughter

Okay. Don't fall out of your chairs. This is Brandy. And yes, I am making a post to the blog. I just couldn't help it.

It's fixin' to be Mother's Day. One of my favorite things about Megan being in school is knowing that she will bring sweet little hand-made projects home at special times like these. When I picked her up today, she ran down the sidewalk half-covered in mud carrying a little pot with a beautiful pink flower in it. It had a little sign sticking out of it which said

Happy Mother's Day
Love
Megan
(signed in her very own sweet little hand writing)

They went to the ABC Greenhouse across town on a school bus this morning. This is a big thing for Megan. As long as we live in town, she will never have to board a bus every morning for school. Or suffer the ride home in one after school. I only say that because that was my plot in life for about 7 years until Shane got his driver's license. I hated those yellow dogs. She thinks its really cool to ride on the bus. I pretend to be excited for her.

She enjoyed the visit to the nursery. They got to pick out the flower they wanted for their mothers. And for those of you who know Megan, of course, she picked a pink one. She especially enjoyed the trip, because we go to church with the owners of the nursery. Bob was there to give her a sucker. (Something he gives all the kids at church on Sunday morning. I still don't know how he gets all of them in his pockets without pocking himself to pieces.)

Anyway, back to the reason for this post: When she got in the car, she proceeded to empty out her folder, handing me each piece of paper one at a time until it was empty and all the contents were lying in the front seat next to me. Almost a full year of school and she still can't make it 12 blocks home before showing me all the stuff she has done and learned.

The first thing she showed me was a "pink" card obviously prepared by her teacher, but it's contents were definitely from the mouth of a child named Megan.

Here is how it went:

My Mom

My Mom is amazing.
She likes to eat cereal.
She always takes naps.
The best thing about my Mom is she makes things with me!

Happy Mother's Day!
2007
Megan

Well, there you have it. Four random bits of information about me.

Studies in Corinthians Part 14

This lesson looks at the last verses of 1 Corinthians 9, and the necessity of self discipline in a Christian life.

New Dallas Mavericks Logo

After 67 regular season wins, to get schooled by the 8th seed... what a disgrace.

Studies in Corinthians Part 12 and 13 - Christian Freedom

I apologize for not getting the audio from last week's lesson posted in a timely manner. There really wasn't any good excuse, other than maybe "Spring Fever" spurring on a case of the "don't-want-to's". This first player will stream part 12, which looks at 1 Corinthians 8, and the issue of Christian freedom.




This player will stream part 13 of the study, which is the second lesson on Christian freedom, and its application to today's Church and its mission of spreading the gospel.

Mavs First Round Playoff Airtimes

As most of you know Brandy and I are Mavs fans. Here is what the first round of playoffs look like:
Game 1 – Sunday, April 22: Golden State at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2 – Wednesday, April 25: Golden State at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.(TNT)
Game 3 – Friday, April 27: Dallas at Golden State, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 – Sunday, April 29: Dallas at Golden State, 9 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary) – Tuesday, May 1: Golden State at Dallas, time TBD
Game 6 (if necessary) – Thursday, May 3: Dallas at Golden State, time TBD
Game 7 (if necessary) – Saturday, May 5: Golden State at Dallas, time TBD (TNT)

For those of you out there cheering for the "Boot Accessory" team:

Game 1 – Sunday, April 22: Denver at San Antonio, 6 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2 – Wednesday, April 25: Denver at San Antonio, 6 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 – Saturday, April 28: San Antonio at Denver, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 – Monday, April 30: San Antonio at Denver, time TBD
Game 5 (if necessary) – Wednesday, May 2: Denver at San Antonio, time TBD
Game 6 (if necessary) – Friday, May 4: San Antonio at Denver, time TBD
Game 7 (if necessary) – Sunday, May 6: Denver at San Antonio, time TBD

(Airtimes from Yahoo News)

Studies in Corinthians - Part 11 - Concerning Marriage (Session 2)

This is the Second Session concerning marriage. We will be looking at 1 Corinthians Chapter 7.

Secrets kept in upper cabinets...

OK, call us bad parents. Call us stingy, or unloving. Remind us that we will be the reason why our daughters will need 200 dollar-an-hour shrinks when they are 35 and feeling "un-loved." It's all our fault... because we hid the Oreos where they can't find them.

About 3 weeks ago, Brandy splurged and purchased the cookies while on a "Mommies Gettin' Away for Sanity" trip to the grocery store. When she returned she very quietly placed the delicious little treasures out of the peering eyes of the "Vocal Minority" (Madelyn) and the "Cabinet Rockclimber" (Megan). Of course I cannot let Brandy take all the blame. Dad decided that the dark, sugar- filled morsels probably required, well, -- parental guidance.

The splendor of a well kept secret, tucked away, and "out of site...out of mind" for the youngsters...and dad. I hate to admit I also forgot they were up there until today. The two children were playing in the backyard, and Brandy went into the kitchen, and very quietly retrieved the package from an upper cabinet shelf (in fact, maybe she was trying to hide them from me, she knows how forgetful I am!) I noticed, and it was like seeing a long lost friend, a buddy who was once at the other end of the world now returning home, and a smile came across my face, and I called out from the computer across the room, saying, "hey, where were those?"

Brandy said, "Sssshhhh." Reminding me that "the children" with super hearing and a keen sense of smell would soon discover us out, and that would be the end of our Oreo stash.

I whispered, "I think I want two." (Oreos-- not children, we have two already, they are plenty.) With a look of disgust, Brandy reluctantly fished another Oreo from the horde. The look on her face reminded me of a certain Seinfeld episode and the conundrum Eileen was in, except here Brandy was asking herself , "is my husband 'Oreo-worthy'?"

There is nothing like a snack after school. And I savored the first Oreo as Brandy and I talked about the day, carrying on conversation without the worry of having to stop mid-thought to say "YA'LL BETTER FIGURE IT OUT IN THERE!" or "Not right now dear...Not right NOW dear...NOT RIGHT NOW DEAR!" or a myriad of other concerns coming from a point of view somewhere around 2.5 to 3 feet from the ground.

But suddenly without warning as I started on the second Oreo, the back screen door opened and through it came "The Vocal Minority." She took one look at dad, looked at the second cookie in my hand, and then turned to mommy, and with sterling resolve, a low intonation, and brevity of language, said:

"Coo-kie."

We tried to continue, like we didn't hear her. She repeated, a little louder, "Coooooo-KIE."

It was then, we knew the jig was up. Her blackmail successful, we gave her the Oreo. I could have kicked myself for my gluttony. Brandy reminded me of this as she handed Madelyn the co-opted confection, saying, " You know she would've never seen it, if you had only asked for one."

However, the bribe kept "Vocal minority" from raising her voice with her next request, and alerting the "Cabinet Rockclimber" who, once discovering, is smart enough to get a cookie this time, wait around to see where mom stashes it, and then climb up to get another whenever she wants (give a man a fish... teach the man to climb a cabinet to get a fish-- you get the idea.) After eating all of her plunder, Madelyn abruptly turned and headed back out the door with what I thought was a very satisfied look. Brandy replaced the Cookie Cache and sat down at the computer to check e-mail.

After a minute or two, Megan came to the door with Madelyn in tow. "Mommy, look at this!" She said.

Madelyn stood there at the door, next to her big sister, wearing a smile that would make the Cheshire cat envious. And encircling the smile...the tell-tale black crumbs of O-R-E-O. It took all the poker face Brandy and I could muster. Brandy said, "Yes, Megan?" feigning ignorance.

Megan said, "Mommy, Madelyn's been eating dirt!"

A pregnant pause ensued.

Brandy replied, "Yes, yes she has..."

Studies in Corinthians - Part 10 - Concerning Marriage

This section focuses on the first part of 1 Corinthians Chapter 7, and the issues of marriage and divorce among Christians. I apologize, but due to technical difficulties, Part 9 from last week was not recorded. In the future I might try to put together a supplementary lesson for part 9.

Rain "dance"? Try Rain "bike"

After an entire week with better than a 30% chance for showers, and clouds like those Amber described, we have gotten only a pittance of rain: 7.7mm. Yes my rain gauge is metric -- I'm a science teacher, go figure(convert it here.) So, no real rain that is, until we threatened to go "bicycle."

Megan, after learning to ride without her training wheels, has asked every day, "Can we go bicycle?" We had a fellowship after church last night, so we promised to go bicycle with her this evening-- and not just dad, but mom on her bike and Madelyn on the back of dad's. We have a child's seat that converts to a book rack. It's easy on and easy off (amazon has one). So as I walked through the door from school the first thing I heard was, "Daddy!... when are we going to go bicycle?"

After supper, we got down the bikes, I put air back into Brandy's mountain bike tires, and we all got strapped in... just in time for the rain to start...

Long story short, the rain let up long enough for us to get in twice around the block, and Megan got her ride, Brandy and I got our exercise, and the yard got watered. Everybody's happy (at least for the next 20 minutes...)

Studies in Corinthians - Part 8

This study looks at how Christians should resolve conflict, and their appropriate use of judicial systems. We focus on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

Megan w/o Training Wheels

"The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant--and let the air out of the tires."
- Dorothy Parker

Brandy had one of those "Mommy, why are you crying?" moments this evening, when we took the training wheels off the bike. Megan did really good, and after a couple of tries, dad let go of the back of the bike seat, and the girl took off.

The image above is actually a video. Just use the play button (>) to watch Megan without the training wheels.

And you think you had a bad day?

Brandy said she didn't notice our "little friend" until she rounded the back of the car to get Madelyn out of her seat. It startled her, but then she noticed it was already dead-- its head crushed. Brandy and I figure the snake was trying to get into the garage, and Brandy closed the door on him when she left to pick up Megan from Pre-K.

Call it a small case of "sympathy for the devil." When I got home and saw, I almost felt sorry for the thing...Almost...

My sympathy for things that could hurt my family doesn't run very deep.

This is the second rattlesnake we have killed since living here. They are on the move with the weather changing, and the changing of the season. This was a little one. The previous one we killed during fall was much larger. We took the "teachable moment" --again -- to tell the girls to tell Mommy and Daddy if they see a snake in the yard, and never to get close to one.

I believe in learning from the world around us. Sometimes it a been a bad day, cause we find ourselves dealing with difficult issues as the consequences of our actions (sometimes not). We all get stuck in situations its hard to get out of, but... I guess we could say the lesson for the day is:

"One way to keep from getting crushed by the things of this world, and to keep from getting stuck in situations you can't get out of, is to never stick your nose where it doesn't belong."

Studies in Corinthians Part 07 - Withdrawing Fellowship

This lesson looks at withdrawal of fellowship, its reason, and appropriate use. Our passage of study is 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.

Par for a Livingroom Course?

Winter is turning the corner toward spring, and with it, time to go outside, put off yardwork and my wife's "Honey-Do List", for a round of frustration and humiliation -- that's right, "golf." For many months now, the weather has kept us away from the links, and we had resorted to practicing the time honored tradition of "living room putt-putt."

The carpet in the house has a natural "break," probably due to parts of the pad breaking down under high traffic spots. So upon learning to read it, I have become accomplished at making putts from within 8-10 feet, between the legs of a toddler, and around baby dolls. I occasionally though have to pull out the wedge, in order to chip over larger items like riding toys, or piles of Lego blocks. I've decided that one way I could fund a golf habit might be to loan out my eager, albeit very young, "livingroom caddies" to other "livingroom golfers." One (Madelyn) is even adept at returning your ball to you before it comes to a complete stop. Also, she places said ball right in front of your putter. If you move the putter, she moves the ball, which makes for a very humorous scene while trying to line up your shot.

Studies in Corinthians - Part 6: Do not go beyond the Word.

This is the audio from Part 6. The lesson looks at the negative effects of self-interests in God's Church. The powerpoint for the lesson is available.

Science for Kids - Globe at Night

This month, from March 8-21, your children can participate in helping a group of scientists collect data on the affects of lights, and our ability to see the night sky. Megan and I started it tonight, and she really enjoyed it. I started by showing her an image from the website of the constellation Orion, and then they had a link where she could practice finding it. We drew it a couple of times, and she had no problem finding it in the sky. After we came in from spotting, I asked her to look at some of the Magnitude charts, and we talked about which one looked most like our sky in the backyard. It was very easy to do. The website details these steps:

Five Easy Star-Hunting Steps:

1) Find your latitude and longitude.
2) Find Orion by going outside an hour after sunset
(about 7-10pm local time)
3) Match your nighttime sky to one of our magnitude charts.
4) Report your observation.
5) Compare your observation to thousands around the world.

A family activity packet has any observation sheets or Magnitude charts that you may need. After a couple more observations, I'll ask Megan why she can see different stars at different times, and we can discuss the idea of light pollution. She also wants to learn more of the constellations, so tomorrow we will find Orion and one of the dippers. Anyway, it's an easy way to do "real" science. The data that is collected is used for real research, and as a participant, you can use everyone's observations as well.